Related Links

Doctor first in the nation to test new procedure

Published: Monday, September 20, 2010 at 11:27 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, September 20, 2010 at 11:27 a.m.

HOUMA — Houma’s Craig Walker, a cardiologist and Medical Director at Cardiovascular Institute of the South, is the first doctor in the United States to use a new technique to treat a patient for peripheral-arterial disease.

Peripheral-arterial disease occurs when plaque builds up in the arteries that carry blood to your head, organs and limbs. Plaque is made up of fat, cholesterol, calcium, fibrous tissue, and other substances in the blood. Walker performed the procedure at Terrebonne General Medical Center.

The new device, called a Phoenix Atherectomy catheter, is minimally invasive and designed to cut, capture and remove arterial plaque that can cause blood-flow

problems.

The device is currently being evaluated in a clinical trial. This Federal Drug Administration-approved trial is enrolling 90 patients at up to 20 clinical sites throughout the

nation.

The single-use catheter can treat a wide range of blood-vessel sizes with one insertion. It was developed to provide physicians with a safe, adaptable and simple alternative to treat legs and eliminate the need for amputations.

Walker said he is honored to enroll the first patient in the clinical trial.

“I am optimistic that this will be a useful tool,” he said.

Symptoms of peripheral arterial disease include pain or numbness in the legs, foot or toe pain and slow-to-heal foot wounds.

Risk factors include smoking, diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and a family history of vascular disease.

For information about Cardiovascular Institute of the South, call 1-800-425-2565 or visit www.cardio.com. Also, visit Cardiovascular Institute of the South on Facebook and Twitter.

<p>HOUMA — Houma's Craig Walker, a cardiologist and Medical Director at Cardiovascular Institute of the South, is the first doctor in the United States to use a new technique to treat a patient for peripheral-arterial disease.</p><p>Peripheral-arterial disease occurs when plaque builds up in the arteries that carry blood to your head, organs and limbs. Plaque is made up of fat, cholesterol, calcium, fibrous tissue, and other substances in the blood. Walker performed the procedure at Terrebonne General Medical Center.</p><p>The new device, called a Phoenix Atherectomy catheter, is minimally invasive and designed to cut, capture and remove arterial plaque that can cause blood-flow </p><p>problems. </p><p>The device is currently being evaluated in a clinical trial. This Federal Drug Administration-approved trial is enrolling 90 patients at up to 20 clinical sites throughout the </p><p>nation.</p><p>The single-use catheter can treat a wide range of blood-vessel sizes with one insertion. It was developed to provide physicians with a safe, adaptable and simple alternative to treat legs and eliminate the need for amputations. </p><p>Walker said he is honored to enroll the first patient in the clinical trial. </p><p>“I am optimistic that this will be a useful tool,” he said.</p><p>Symptoms of peripheral arterial disease include pain or numbness in the legs, foot or toe pain and slow-to-heal foot wounds.</p><p>Risk factors include smoking, diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and a family history of vascular disease. </p><p>For information about Cardiovascular Institute of the South, call 1-800-425-2565 or visit www.cardio.com. Also, visit Cardiovascular Institute of the South on Facebook and Twitter.</p>